Recent Posts in Auto Defects Category

Can Employer Negligence Cause Truck Accidents?

Posted By The Stewart Law Firm, PLLC || 10-Apr-2019

Can Employer Negligence Cause Truck Accidents? Each year, an alarmingly high number of Texans are killed or injured in traffic collisions involving 18-wheeler vehicles. Many grieving families and accident survivors struggle to maintain their prior lifestyles in the aftermath of a collision because they’re burdened by medical debts, funeral expenses, and unexpected probate costs. Fortunately, ...

Fatal Car Crashes: Important Information for Surviving Family Members

Posted By The Stewart Law Firm, PLLC || 19-Jan-2018

Car accidents are a common occurrence. Sadly, fatal accidents are fairly common as well. Although the family of a person killed in car accident will need time to grieve, it is important for them to remember that there are legal actions that can be taken to help them overcome this tragic situation. If the car accident that resulted in the death was caused by the negligence of another driver, ...

Auto Defects & Car Accident Claims

Posted By The Stewart Law Firm, PLLC || 12-Aug-2017

Not all car accidents are caused by reckless drivers. Sometimes, car accidents are the result of factors beyond the control of the driver, such as when defective brakes unexpectedly fail or when a faulty ignition switch turns off the vehicle while the engine is operating. Vehicle defects can also cause serious harm after an accident, such as when an integral safety feature fails to protect the ...

Takata Dropped as Honda's Airbag Supplier After Massive Recall

Posted By The Stewart Law Firm, PLLC || 6-Nov-2015

Honda Motor Company made the decision on Tuesday, November 3, to end its longtime business partnership with Takata, a Japan-based manufacturer, after airbag defects led to the recall of more than 30 million vehicles. Honda cited “misrepresentation and manipulation of test data” as the primary reason behind their decision to drop Takata as their airbag supplier. Takata is now facing a ...

Fiat Chrysler Sanctioned by the Department of Transportation

Posted By Stephen Stewart || 27-Jul-2015

The Secretary of the United States Department of Transportation announced that Fiat Chrysler will repair and/or buy back certain defective vehicles and pay a civil penalty of $105 million to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The penalty is the highest imposed by the NHTSA ever. The affected vehicles have serious safety defects that violate the Motor Vehicle Safety Act. The USDOT ...

Automotive Defect Accident Litigation in Texas

Posted By Stephen Stewart || 5-Jun-2015

Millions of automobiles have been recalled in recent years for dangerous defects. Although auto manufacturers offer to fix these defective cars for free, certain percentage of them will never get fixed, meaning that these defective cars will continue to endanger American consumers on Texas roadways. Defects in automobiles can affect virtually every part of a car, but the most dangerous defects are ...

GM Vehicles Recalled for Ignition Switch Problems

Posted By The Stewart Law Firm, PLLC || 18-Feb-2014

General Motors recently announced a recall that may affect Texas residents. The company is recalling Chevrolet Cobalt and Pontiac G5 compacts because of unsafe vehicle design. Six people have been killed as a result of at least 22 accidents in which faulty ignition switches in the vehicles played a role, according to the recall. The Cobalts were manufactured in the years 2005-2007. The G5s are ...

Toyota Camry Hybrid Probed for Reported Brake Problems

Posted By Stephen Stewart || 31-Jan-2014

Texas Toyota drivers may be interested to learn of a federal investigation into alleged braking problems with 2007-08 Toyota Camry Hybrid. After receiving several complaints from consumers regarding multiple incidents of loss of assisted braking, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened an investigation of the Camry Hybrid sedans. The agency says that it has received 59 complaints ...

Range Rover SUVs Recalled Because of Defective Airbags

Posted By The Stewart Law Firm, PLLC || 9-Jan-2014

Austin residents who own a Range Rover SUV may want to know about a recent recall that was issued by the manufacturer. Land Rover has announced the recall of 2013 and 2014 Range Rover models because of malfunctioning airbags. According to reports, the recall affects 3,912 vehicles that were sold within the United States. Car owners who have one of the affected models may wish to contact their ...

344,000 Honda Odysseys Recalled Due to Braking Issue

Posted By The Stewart Law Firm, PLLC || 3-Jan-2014

Certain Honda Odyssey minivans registered in Texas and elsewhere across the country are the subject of a recall. Honda has recalled 344,187 of the minivans built between Aug. 8, 2006 and Sept. 8, 2008. These Odysseys may be vulnerable to potential hard braking that occurs without warning. The software in the Vehicle Safety Assist System is apparently the issue. Thus far, no accidents or injuries ...

Tread Endurance Issue Causes Recall of Michelin Tires

Posted By The Stewart Law Firm, PLLC || 29-Dec-2013

Full-sized Ford van owners in Texas may want to pay attention to an important recall from Michelin North America as the company is recalling 1.2 million tires. The defective tires were used on some of Ford's commercial vans, and they may have problems with the tread coming apart. Michelin reported to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that the tires involved in the recall are ...

Major Recall of GMC Pickups

Posted By The Stewart Law Firm, PLLC || 7-Nov-2013

Texas residents who own a new GMC Sierra or Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck with a 2014 year model may have gotten a recall notice from the manufacturer. This is because General Motors Co has issued a recall of nearly 20,000 of these trucks due to issues related to defective seatback designs. Vehicles that are being recalled were manufactured between Aug. 1 and Sept. 10. The issue is that, due to ...

Hyundai Recalls Genesis Luxury Vehicles

Posted By The Stewart Law Firm, PLLC || 30-Oct-2013

Texas owners of the 2009 model Hyundai Genesis should be aware of possible break issues with the vehicle. Mere hours after the U.S. government started an investigation on 40,000 Genesis cars on Oct. 21, the automobile manufacturer issued a recall. As a result of a problem with the braking system, Genesis automobiles manufactured between April 1, 2008 and March 16, 2012 may be unsafe products. ...

Major Recall May Affect Toyota Customers

Posted By The Stewart Law Firm, PLLC || 30-Oct-2013

Toyota owners in Texas may be interested in a recent recall. The automaker has announced that it is recalling 803,000 cars in the United States due to a problem that could cause airbags to malfunction. The affected models include the 2012 and 2013 Venza, Camry, Camry Hybrids, Avalon, and Avalon Hybrids. The recall announcement coincided with the day that the National Highway Traffic Safety ...

Implications of Tesla Vehicle Fire

Posted By The Stewart Law Firm, PLLC || 10-Oct-2013

A battery for a Tesla Model S electric car exploded but caused no casualties or injuries. The vehicle was traveling at highway speed when it collided with a large metal object that had fallen off a semi trailer. This caused the object to push up into the engine compartment, piercing the quarter inch thick armor plate beneath the battery and causing the first battery fire in an electric car ever. ...

Chrysler to Recall 2.7 Million Jeep Vehicles

Posted By The Stewart Law Firm, PLLC || 27-Jun-2013

After initially refusing to comply with a recall demand, Chrysler has agreed to recall nearly 2.7 million Jeeps, which may be of interest to Chrysler Jeep owners in Texas. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration requested the recall after determining that the vehicles are at high risk of catching fire if struck in the rear. Chrysler denies this claim and argues that the vehicles are ...

A Defective Air Bag Won't Provide Protection to Austin Drivers

Posted By The Stewart Law Firm, PLLC || 26-Apr-2013

Car advertisements talk a lot about the air bag protection offered in the vehicle. A spokesperson will say that "this model has x-number of side and front air bags" or talk about the response technology used to release the air bags in a crash. That is all well and good, but what if the air bag is defective? A defective air bag will not provide much protection to Austin drivers in an ...